Donovan Mitchell led the Cleveland Cavaliers with 23 points and Jarrett Allen had 20 rebounds as they secured a 96-86 win over the Orlando Magic on Monday night, extending their lead to 2-0 in the first-round Eastern Conference series.
The Cavaliers controlled the entire game, much like they did in Game 1. Evan Mobley added 17 points and Allen contributed 16 points (with nine offensive rebounds).
On the opposing side, Paolo Banchero scored 21 points and Franz Wagner added 18 for the Magic.
The series now heads to Orlando for Game 3 on Thursday.
During the game, Magic guard Jalen Suggs suffered a sprained left knee in the first quarter after a collision with Mitchell. Despite the injury, Suggs returned after halftime and scored 9 points. The Magic scored 13 points in the fourth quarter, but as Mitchell returned and quickly hit two goals to help the Cavaliers restore the gap, the Magic The team ultimately fell short.
The loss of Suggs seemed to affect the Magic’s performance, as they struggled to find their shooting rhythm, finishing with a 36% field goal percentage and 9 of 35 from beyond the arc.
Orlando’s coach, Jamahl Mosley, encouraged his team to maintain confidence in their shooting despite the struggles, emphasizing the importance of taking open shots.
“I don’t care if you’ve missed two in a row or 10 in a row,” he said before the game. “If you’re open, let it go.”
However, the Magic’s shooting woes persisted, with a slow start from the field and a series of missed opportunities from beyond the arc.
